Mt. Baker Women's 4-day Climb Frequently Asked Questions

This information should answer many of your initial questions and also guide you through the next stages of preparing for the expedition. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us: office@mountainguides.com

What skills do I need to have?

There are no technical prerequisites for the Mt. Baker Women's Climb. All participants must arrive in good physical condition and be prepared to carry a 35-40 pound pack. Stamina is key in mountaineering: steady continuous movement is far more important than speed.

An ideal training goal is the ability to ascend 1,000 feet per hour for 4-5 consecutive hours (with a 10-15 minute break for food and water after each hour,) with a 35 pound backpack, on back-to-back days. You can gauge that your speed is appropriate if you can sing out loud to your music the whole time. If you are huffing and puffing and can't hold a conversation, you are going too fast!

For training suggestions, please review the information provided on our Training for Rainier page »

How do I get there?

International Mountain Guides has worked for many years with the staff at CTT Destinations to provide professional travel service for participants in our programs. For help with your plans, we urge you to contact Pirjo at CTT Destinations: 800-909-6647 or img@cttdestinations.com

What's included in the trip cost?

Cost Includes:

• all group equipment including shared tents, stoves, climbing ropes and hardware
• climbing permits.

Cost Does Not Include:

• transportation to the trailhead
• lodging the evening prior to the start of the climb or the last night of the trip
• required* Travel Insurance

What kind of insurance do I need?

The *Travel Insurance requirement does not apply to IMG customers on programs within the contiguous USA (excluding Alaska) but is strongly encouraged. The trip cancelation insurance protects your financial investment in the climb if you need to cancel, as all IMG fees are non-refundable. The earlier you purchase your insurance, the more options available.